Grading Policy

Grading Policy

Grading is the main symbolic method of recording the evaluation of a student’s academic performance. This academic evaluation is both the responsibility and the prerogative of the individual instructor. Where appropriate, the instructor may delegate authority but not responsibility in this matter. The instructor is the ultimate arbiter of grades in the course. All grades must be submitted 96 hours after the last final of the semester.

The instructor of record of a course has the responsibility for any grade reported. Once a grade has been reported to the Office of the Registrar, it may be changed upon the signed authorization of the instructor of record who issued the original grade. In case the instructor is not available, the department head or associate dean has authority to change the grade. This applies also to the grade of Incomplete (I). A change of grade after more than one year also requires the signature of the academic dean of the college in which the course is offered with one exception: graduate thesis and dissertation courses (6970,6990, 7970,7990) do not require the signature of the academic dean to be changed from Incomplete (I) to a letter grade.

The establishment of grading policy devolves on the Faculty Senate as the representative of the individual instructor. The Faculty Senate Committee charged with the establishment and review of grading policy is the Academic Standards Subcommittee of the Educational Policies Committee, which has student representatives since students are directly affected by changes in grading policy. All matters regarding grading policy throughout the university shall, therefore, be referred to this subcommittee.